Well, I did it. After more than three months of being grounded, I finally decided to take a trip by plane. I’m a travel writer and travel blogger by profession, after all, so I need to understand what’s happening in the industry so I can better serve my readers. I need to be on the road (and in the air) if I’m going to write about it. There’s nothing like first-hand experience, after all — and after my recent trip between New York City and Los Angeles, I learned more than I could ever have gotten from any magazine article.
Did I get your attention with my terrified look in the cover photo, by the way? Well, I wasn’t really terrified. I was just being dramatic because I figured I already looked a bit crazy wearing that hat with the flexible plastic face shield, so why not push it a step further. For the flight home, I found a cooler looking face shield that fits like a pair of glasses and doesn’t cover up your entire head (the downside is that it accentuates my giant, Glenn Close-style forehead, but that’s my problem — see the photo below). The point is, you can protect yourself when you travel, and there are many ways to do it, regardless of the size of your forehead.
Beyond questionable fashion statements, here’s what I learned while flying during the coronavirus pandemic, and what you need to know.
• Expect inconsistency. Don’t expect your experience to always be the same (or the same as other people), even if you’re flying the same airline on the same trip. My husband’s and my first airline flight during the pandemic was on American Airlines, flying from New York’s JFK airport to Los Angeles (LAX). short lines but little social distancing in the boarding process. Only a few stores open and I didn’t see any hand sanitizer dispensers for the public to use in the terminal and none provided as we boarded either. They boarded by group, not from the back to front as I had read some airlines do.
Our American Airlines flight from JFK to LAX was completely full (in other words, don’t plan on getting an empty seat next to you during the pandemic — however, some carriers, like Delta and Southwest, are still guaranteeing an empty middle seat. Details like this make it even more necessary to shop around). Inflight service on our 5.5-hour flight was just one round of nonalcoholic beverages (no snacks, no food, so bring your own — and it was a good thing we brought our own sanitizer, since American didn’t provide wipes or gel). Most annoying: in spite of the fact that the airline has far fewer flights and passengers now, American still managed to lose my luggage on a simple nonstop flight, and couldn’t get us seats together. So much for the value of AAdvantage Platinum status!
But now compare that negative travel experience with our return trip from LAX to JFK. On that flight, the plane was more than half empty, so we had empty seats next to us. They provided two rounds of nonalcoholic beverages, not just one — and this time they even gave a nice little snack box that even included disinfectant wipes. So you never know what you’re going to get, even when you fly the same airline. The lesson: bring everything you need and don’t expect anything on board. That way you won’t be disappointed.
• Research each airline’s requirements and practices before you choose your flight. And then research again just before your trip. During a situation as unpredictable as the coronavirus pandemic, you never know when requirements and practices might change. That means it’s a good idea to review each airline’s policies before you book — Delta Air Lines, for example, is still guaranteeing an empty middle seat, while American Airlines is not. In the old days, we used to shop around based on price and schedule. Now, pandemic policies are part of the mix, too. And, since things change quickly nowadays, you should double check what your airline is doing just before you travel, too.
• Bring everything you need. Assume that some stores and restaurants will be closed in the airport, so you may not be able to buy things you ordinarily would look for there. You also shouldn’t assume that you’ll get anything more than one beverage during your flight. So bring all the necessities — including food, drink, face masks, sanitary wipes and hand sanitizer.
• Play it safe. Face masks are required for every passenger and airline employee. For maximum safety, I also wear disposable plastic gloves and a face shield, and I bring my own hand sanitizer to use frequently, as well as antiseptic wipes to wipe off all the high-touch surfaces around my seat on the plane: reclining bottom, entertainment console and screen, seat belts and the control buttons for the air vent and reading light. Do you have to wear a face shield and gloves? No. Does it hurt to do so? Absolutely not. And I feel safer and more comfortable knowing that my eyes and hands are protected from germs.
• Consider the restrictions issued by your destination. Depending on where you’re flying from and to, you may face self-quarantine restrictions upon arrival.
Before we flew from Los Angeles (LAX) to New York City (JFK), the gate agent handed each passenger a form that we had to fill out, informing us that the State of New York had issued a 14-day self-quarantine order for anyone arriving from a state where coronavirus numbers were surging. That included California, our point of origin. We dutifully filled out the form but, upon arrival, found there was no one to collect the forms from passengers. There was a big box near baggage claim, but no human and no one was depositing the form. Just one day after our arrival, however, I heard that New York State had begun posting personnel in airports to collect the forms from passengers arriving from the flagged states. Just one more example of how things can change from one day to the next!
The bottom line: air travel isn’t what it used to be. If you don’t feel ready or comfortable with the the idea of flying, don’t do it. If you are ready to travel, whether for a business trip or a vacation, take the necessary precautions, do the research and stay informed.